Snapshots
WU Summer Program "Cultures and Societies in Transition: the Example of Georgia and Azerbaijan"
Areas of Study
Interdisciplinary coursework for students interested in psychology, international and area studies, political science, anthropology, applied linguistics, history or getting acquainted with two unique and ancient civilizations.
| Term | Dates | Application Deadline |
| Summer** | late May - late June | February 15 |
**Program will not run in Summer 2008.
Eligibility
Appropriate interest and academic preparation
WU Credits
4 units of WU academic credit
Culture, Language, and Social Identity: Mechanisms of Change (4 units) will be offered as part of the summer session. This course will address a general set of issues, including the following: how do individuals act and react when their social environment changes un-expectedly and rapidly? What effects do such conditions have on individuals' sense of identity, as well as their implicit and explicit attitudes?
What role does language play in this context? One of the themes underlying these questions is that memory for the past can both affect and be affected by one’s experience in the present. For example, cognitive and affective associations formed during a previous historical era (e.g. life during the Soviet era) have the capacity to influence and be influenced by more recent events that have transpired since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Washington University faculty members Alan Lambert (Psychology) and Joachim Faust (Linguistics) will be the principal organizers of the course, with other faculty members potentially involved as well. During the four-week session, students will attend morning seminars led by both the primary faculty as well as by distinguished local scholars. As part of the course requirement, students will be expected to conduct a small research project on their own, under the guidance of the Washington University faculty members. Georgian students will also participate in this seminar.
Location
Tbilisi, Georgia and Baku, Azerbaijan
Situated at the crossroads of Eurasia, Georgia provides an ideal historical and political setting for the study of emerging democracies and civil societies. It is an ancient civilization that has only recently begun experimenting with democracy and a market economy. Some of the cultural and institutional legacies of the Soviet period have made this experiment difficult, but Georgia’s emerging role as a transit country for Caspian Sea oil to the West has given it new economic prospects and geopolitical significance.
The main part of the program will take place in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Tbilisi is a city of more than a million inhabitants that combines Eurasian architecture and charm with modern facilities. It has interesting archeological sites, historically significant hot spring baths, and other architectural treasures. It is also the home of major corporations, international organizations, and other important economic and political institutions. Although it has suffered during the post-Soviet years, it is re-emerging as a city of modern conveniences, excellent restaurants, and tourist attractions.
After three weeks in Georgia, the group will travel to Baku, which will provide students with the opportunity to experience the capital of Azerbaijan during the current oil boom. The comparison between Georgia, a predominantly Orthodox Christian country, and Azerbaijan with its secularized Islamic culture, will add a specifically interesting dimension to the program.
Housing
Double occupany in two star hotel (single available at extra cost)
Student Life
In addition to their course experience, students will be taken on several trips to significant historical and archeological sites. These include Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, and one of its major religious sites; Gori, the birthplace of Josef Stalin and the site of the Soviet-era Stalin museum; various sites on the Absheron peninsula, such as the petrogliffs at Gorbustan and the Burning Mountain at Yanar Dag. Students will also attend cultural events such as theater and musical performances.
Foreign visitors routinely visit Tbilisi and Baku. Washington University has organized several different study abroad programs since Summer 2004, and students have encountered no security problems. Students will, however, receive briefings both before they leave on the trip, as well as from on-site American Embassy personnel. A Washington University representative, along with local Georgian and Azerbaijani colleagues who speak fluent English, will be available and on call at all times. For further information about these issues or about Georgia and Azerbaijan in general, see the U.S. Embassy homepage.
On-Site Support
Program leaders are WU faculty members
WU Program Price
The WU program price includes WU tuition plus WU student health insurance and any housing, food, airfare or other costs paid by WU on the student's behalf. Below are projected program pricing and estimated personal expenses for this program. Click on the term to download a detailed cost breakdown.
| Estimated Costs* | Summer |
| WU Program Price | $2,950 |
| Additional Expenses | $1,400-1,800 |
| Total | $4,350-$4,750 |
*The fees, charges, and expenses shown are estimates based on current information only and are subject to change.
| Faculty Liaison Dr. Joachim Faust Campus Box 1117 (314) 935-6800 jfaust22@wustl.edu |
Overseas Programs Coordinator Ms. Jaydee Amoloza Campus Box 1088 (314) 935-9607 Stix House 104 jamoloza@wustl.edu |
